Ice Sheet Melt Will Increase Methane Emissions in the Arctic

Geology, April 22

Similarities between previous deglaciation periods reveal that the retreat of Arctic ice sheets was a common driver for episodic release of methane from Arctic seabeds. Sediment cores show that as the Arctic ice sheet melted, pressure on the seafloor lessened, and methane was released in violent spurts as well as in slow seeps. These reservoirs of methane are potentially large enough to globally raise atmospheric concentrations if released during the current melting of glacial ice and permafrost. Authors emphasize the importance of including these mechanisms in future climate models, to better understand the impact of ice sheet melt on CO2 concentrations.

https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/15/1501/2021/

Compiled by Amy Imdieke